land-speed
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Re: Parachute

To: Jim Dincau <jdincau@qnet.com>
Subject: Re: Parachute
From: DOUG ODOM <popms@thegrid.net>
Date: Sun, 05 Nov 2000 08:04:11 -0800
Jim; Would that system (reefed) work on a LSR vehicle? If so why  is it
not being used?     Doug

Jim Dincau wrote:
> 
> Doug,
> The chute when it blossoms is in a "reefed" condition. A line holds the
> shroud lines close together where they connect to the canopy. After a delay
> this line is cut and the chute opens fully. This technique is used in a lot
> of instances when dealing with heavy loads.
> Jim in Palmdale , who once worked at a place that manufactured "reefer
> cutter" charges.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: DOUG ODOM <popms@thegrid.net>
> To: Wester S Potter <wspotter@jps.net>
> Cc: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2000 7:16 AM
> Subject: Re: Parachute
> 
> > Wes; My $.02 worth. The big difference between drag cars and LSR cars
> > is the size of the tire you have on the ground and the weight of the
> > car. I don't know of many drag cars that run 7 or 8 hundred pounds of
> > ballast. On the really fast LSR cars I would think they would copy the
> > Air Force or space shuttle type of parachute deployment. The other day
> > on TV I saw the space shuttle land and the chute was out before the
> > wheels touched the ground but it looked like it was rolled up so it
> > unfurled and got bigger the longer it was out. Is this a way to soften
> > the hit?
> > Doug Odom in big ditch
> >
> > Wester S Potter wrote:
> > >
> > > List,
> > >
> > > This braking parachute question always leaves me wondering why the drag
> > > racers can slow from 300 mph passes with a parachute time after time
> without
> > > very many incidents.  What is the big difference in slowing from 300 at
> a
> > > drag strip and slowing from 380 or so on the salt?  I'm sure I'm missing
> the
> > > point here somewhere but something is at work on tethers and chute
> design
> > > for land-speed applications that is primarily solved in drag racing.
> The
> > > discussion early this year on how to find the optimum point for placing
> a
> > > tether connection made sense as I read it.  The cars that have problems
> on
> > > the salt are primarily placing that connection in the wrong place and
> > > disturbing the balance of the car at speed.  I realize that drag cars
> differ
> > > so little that once someone gets it right it's easy for everyone to do
> the
> > > same thing.  Not so with land-speed cars.  The basilc ability of getting
> the
> > > parachute to deploy and do it's job seems to be the same however.  The
> > > tether straps are able to handle the same loads on dragsters, ribbon
> chutes
> > > and the cross panel chutes hold up, what is so different on the salt?
> The
> > > Burkland's car certainly had enough thought in the design area  for
> braking
> > > but now Tom has gone back to the drawing board to see what he missed.
> > > Obviously the deployment of the chutes was at speeds higher than he had
> > > intended.  What's the answer?
> > >
> > > Wes

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